Wealthy individuals, businesses, and lobbyists also contribute 10's of millions of dollars
to influence elections

Social and Economic Troubles

So how do we fix this mess we are in? Many Democrats say we need to spend even more money to
fix the economy, despite our already massive debt and deficits. Many Republicans say we should
do nothing to fix the economy, despite the fact that millions of Americans are suffering and
need help. Home forclosures have reached record levels and the ranks of the long term
unemployed continue to swell.

We are told that banks aren't lending and businesses aren't hiring. Everyone knows at least
one or two people who have been deeply affected by the recent economic recession. If you've
lost your own job it probably feels more like a depression. And the media continue to report
that the recent downturn has been the worst economic environment since the Great Depression.

Many Democrats have blamed President Bush and the Republicans for most of our problems while
many Republicans are blaming President Obama and the Democrats now. It doesn't even matter
what one side says, the other side will always oppose it. It's like watching children fight.
Our fat cat representatives in Washington are too busy arguing with each other and conspiring
with special moneyed interests so they can get re-elected. The bills they do pass are 2,000 +
page mammoths that far too many of our representatives haven't even read! Not to mention the
fact that these bills have also been greatly watered down thanks to large bank and corporation
money and lobbyists.

One of our politicans actually said, "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is
in it." Is this the kind of representation we want in our coutry? Should we really wait to
find out what is in a new law until after that law is passed? Are these constantly bickering
political parties really doing us any good? Do they really do anything other than sing us
siren songs and then stab us in the back because of their allegence to their own special
interests?

The Problems

How do we solve these problems? Can these problems even be solved in Washington? If so should
we just sit back and wait for them to fix it? Or is there someone more each of us can do to
help us make it through these difficult times? Are there other things we need to do to look
after and better support our families?

It seems like everyone already knows what the problems are, but nobody can agree on the right
solutions. Certainly we can all agree that the economic conditions aren't good. But can we
even agree on what the actual problems are? So far it seems the answer is no. It seems we are
too busy drawing idealogical battle lines and telling everyone to choose a side.

Is the problem that the government isn't spending enough money? Or are they simply spending
too much? Can the economy really recover if the government doesn't spend all this money?
Should the government be the one responsible to "save" the economy during a recession? Can the
government really even save the economy from a recession? Is the answer more government
spending and regulation, or could the answer actually be less?

Should we continue to allow wealthy individuals and businesses to lobby our representatives
with hundreds of millions of dollars? Do we really want to keep a system that values money
over sound ideas? Do we believe the system we have now is best, or could we come up with a
better one? We see the damage lobbyists and specials interests do and yet we feel we don't
have any power to change the system. Is there anything we can do other than raise millions of
dollars and get in on the game?

Should we allow people to lose their homes and let the foreclosures continue? Or should we
bail them out too just like Congress did with the banks? Certainly we wouldn't want to bail
out the irresponsible people who blew all their money on big screen TVs, drugs, and other
expensive things. But what about those people who are losing their home through no fault of
there own? Is the real problem that people bought homes they couldn't afford, or is not
bailing them out the real problem? Is helping them out the right thing to do?

The Solution

Before we choose a side and enter the battle maybe we should take a step back and agree on the
problems first. After all, how can you solve a problem if you're not exactly sure what the
problem is? What good is replacing the starter or the whole engine on a car that won't start
when it's simply out of gas? You would first identify the root cause, then choose the solution
that would fix the root cause. If it works for fixing cars don't you think it could work for
fixing the problems we face as a nation?

I believe that our nation's biggest problems all spring from the same general problem - a lack
of understanding correct fundamental principles. There are fundamental principles of
economics, finance, and life. Once we have a clear understanding of these correct fundamental
principles we can use that knowledge to identify the root causes of the problems we face.
Then, once we understand what the real problems are, we can identify solutions that will
actually fix the problems we face.

I am currently writing a book that will help each individual explore for themselves what I
believe are the correct fundamental principles we should know and understand. This isn't an
"I'm right, you're wrong" kind of book. There is too much bickering and fighting in the world
today, especially about the social, political, and economic issues we face. My book doesn't
focus on tearing down the people I disagree with. Instead, I focus on discussing the
fundamental principles we need to understand and then analyzing our situation today using those
principles. I then offer some simple solutions that can help each of us better our own lives
that will also help us save our nation.

I think I'll call it:

The Fundamental Principles We Need To Save A
Nation

If you have any research, comments, or ideas you'd like to share with me please sent them to
ideas@tosaveanation.com . Thank you.